Consecrate yourself unto the Lord through extended prayer and fasting.

How to End a Daniel Fast

by Susan Gregory on January 23, 2009

Many men and women will complete their 21-day Daniel Fast over the weekend. And so I wanted to post some advice about ending your fast. Even if you are not concluding your fast, please keep this information in mind. It is important.

Ease back into your “typical diet.” This is especially true with caffeine, sugar, fatty foods, meat and dairy products. Small portions are wise and go slow, perhaps just one or two foods per day.

For caffeine beverages, drink one small cup or glass and then see how your body reacts. Don’t be surprised if you get the “jitters.” Consider starting with de-caf (I realize that’s almost criminal for those of us who love the java). :-)

Don’t be surprised if you feel tired after you start eating the “typical foods.” Your body has been detoxed over the 21-day Daniel Fast and it might scoff at what it has to digest!

Continue to drink lots of filtered water, at least 1/2 gallon a day.

Also, consider the lessons you’ve learned and the good habits you’ve adopted on the Daniel Fast. Don’t leave them behind, but let them become a regular part of your life. This includes your prayer and study time with the Lord as well as improved eating habits.

Finally, while you may always fast at the New Year, consider fasting at other times of the year. Many parents pray and then fast from dawn to dusk on their children’s birthdays. If you have pressing issues or circumstances facing you, consider a time of consecrated prayer and fasting. Last year I fasted during Pentecost seeking the Lord’s direction for some personal business matters.

The Daniel Fast is an excellent method for a partial fast. It beats John the Baptist’s fast — honey and locust!

We ended our Daniel Fast.. and it was a great lesson in discipline and for me to begin a new journey of making God a central part of my life. This comment may be TMI.. but I experienced constipation immediately, even slowly re-introducing regular foods (or maybe what I considered slow was not indeed slow enough). Has anyone else experienced this? I did not eat typical food that constipates, 2 cups of regular coffee, and a pancake for breakfast, for lunch a homemade deli sandwhich on sprouted wheat bread with veggies and 2 thin slices of deli ham, then for dinner, a piece of chicken and a slice of cake (wedding reception).

This fast has made our family more conscience of what we put into our bodies and how little we knew about nutrition. Thank you!

Just ending my first 21-day Daniel Fast. I am sorry to see it end, and I will definitely be doing it again! Thanks be to God for your “site” and “insight.” My Bible reading/study/prayer time has been greatly enriched, lost 12 pounds and feel great! I love the idea of reading the Psalms 5 per day by multiplying the date times 5 to help you remember where you are. Also reading a Proverb each day.

It has been a blessing I now no why I should have obeyed 11 yrs ago. It would have saved me from allot of Hell. Disobedience comes with a price for sure. But thank you lord for your mercy and grace. James from Thorsby,Alabama 2/2/13

Thank you for this information. I am just ending a 21 Day Daniel Fast and rushed back into eating regular foods – I suffered fatique and stomach aches. So I have now stepped back and will go much slower.

Hi Dione,
Yes, you need to be careful during the first couple days of “ordinary eating.” To keep your body from rebelling loudly, reintroduce foods slowly. This is especially important when resuming coffee (all caffeine), meat, dairy products and sweets. Small portions… and easing back into consumption of these foods is advised. Be Blessed in your Journey!

I am on day 20 of my Daniel Fast and I have to admit I’m almost a little emotional about quitting. I LOVED it. My intimacy with God grown tremendously, and I feel fabulous!
I’ve already been praying that I can continue to discipline myself to carry out the healthy habits I’ve established while on the fast.
As someone had mentioned, the benefits of this fast far outweigh any sacrifice made. Praise God for his loving and tender beckoning.

Hi Stephanie,
This may be a time for you to prayerfully consider extending your fast for a time (a 40-50 day fast?). Ask the Holy Spirit what He has for you, “Why this great emotion, where is it coming from”? He very well may be leading you to a deeper place in Him that this last 20 days has just been laying down the foundation for. He is Faithful, He will direct you! BE BLESSED on your journey dear one!

About Susan Gregory and The Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is a method of fasting and based on the fasting experiences of the Old Testament prophet Daniel.

Susan Gregory started writing about the fast when she responded to a word from the Lord. Since that time she has become the leading source for information about the Daniel Fast and has a personal call to "serve God by serving His people." Her desire is to help men and women experience a successful fast as they grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Susan is the author of "The Daniel Fast: feed your soul, strengthen your spirit and renew your body" which is available from local and online bookseller or from http://Daniel-Fast.com